Dear Men and Women of Pirate Cross Country,

The 2007-2008 year of distance running was a breakthrough year for Pirate Distance, Mercer County, and New Jersey.  Prior to last season our boy’s team had never reached the Meet of Champions in the 33 years the school has been open.  We not only reached it- we had the individual champion post the 5^th fastest time ever on the storied  Holmdel Park course and our team placed 7^th- a mere 12 points out of a top-5 finish. Our boys team set the fastest 5 man average ever from a Mercer County Team. The boys team was honored as one of the top 25 teams in the Mid- Atlantic/ New England section of the United States. Brian Leung reached the pinnacle of individual glory in our sport by finishing 15^th at the Footlocker Championships in San Diego to earn All-American honors.

The girls team was wracked by graduation and scrambled to replace it’s varsity runners.  The girls were just shy of qualifying for the State Meet when they finished 6^th in a very tough Central Group 4 section. Their team average was an amazing 14 seconds faster than the year previous. Katie Kellner had the highest individual placing in school history (11^th) at the New Jersey State Meet of Champions and finished 24^th at the Footlocker Qualifier to Earn All NE United States Honors.

                In indoor track heads continued to roll as Brian Leung became the fastest prep 2 miler in state history- also shattering the State Group and Meet of Champions records along the way.  The boys DMR team of Keith Griffith, Joe Brown, Sam Macaluso, and Brian ran the 2^nd fastest time in the United States and were awarded All-State First Team honors.  Macaluso and Griffith both made it to the Meet of Champions in their respective events while Brian Schoepfer carved out a name for himself nationally by competing well at the mile distance indoors.

                Katie Kellner continued her steady rise to the top as she ran her fastest 2 mile ever indoors while finishing 7^t at the MOC in 10:54. Katie followed this up with a 6^th place finish outdoors in a time of 10:45!! She was supported by her teammates through the state meet as Shelby Miller and Ting Ting Zhou made it through to the State Round indoors. The girls continued to improve outdoors and set the school 4x800 record of 9:41.

                Great things continued outdoors as the Distance Medley, without injured Brian Leung, set the Mercer County Meet record of 10:31 and Keith Griffith broke at 27 year old school record in the 800 with a time of 1:53 to place 3^rd in the state. For many of us though Penn was our high water mark.  Simply put- we lost our nerve. This should leave us hungry.  Hungry enough to work consistently.  Hungry enough to prove ourselves. Hungry to show that we’re a great PROGRAM- not just a collection of a few talented runners. We need to be hungry enough to take risks, to run wild- to step out of ourselves, to put ourselves next-door to our dreams, to think big, to create something special- to be part of something significant.  In our sport Hunger needs to burn slow- we need to put forth our effort over days, weeks, and months.  We need to kill ‘em like Clint Eastwood.

                What are our goals? Let’s begin by discussing our capabilities and our team expectations.  If we prepare with the same vigor and consistency that we prepared with last year we could surpass last season’s performances.  This will take careful and consistent attention to our training pattern.  Each week the intensity and volume will slightly increase.  It’s important that we maintain our dedication to attending practice- no single day is important- rather a singular drop a day will create a large bucket o’ fitness that we can empty out on our opponents during the money meets of late October and mid November.  When we reach the silent, cold, and crisp starting line at Holmdel this November let’s prepare to have peace in our hearts knowing we did more than any other team to ensure our best collective performance. If we do this we’ll return to the Meet of Champions on both sides.  Our goal is to get there and perform well. If things go well enough at MOC we’ll take a shot at the best and go to the Nike Team National’s Northeast qualifier.

                Sacrifice is often used to describe the essential denial of a long distance runner.  We deny the idea of sacrifice.  When you’re a father/ mother you don’t sacrifice time in front of the TV to have a catch with “Johnny”- you do it because you love little Johnny and it’s the right thing to do!!!  Our goal is to help create something lasting and important.  To accomplish this necessitates action, to act is to commit.  To commit is to prioritize.   If this team, and this sport, and this idea is as important to you as it is to us then sacrifice is secondary to the tasks that are necessary to accomplish OUR goals.  Do you care enough? We care. Are you willing to work? We’re willing to work.  Are you willing to make this season memorable? We are. Are you willing to put aside the fleeting distractions of youth for a few hours a day? We are.  We’re totally 100% committed to making this season special, rewarding, and   unique.  We’re committed to making a difference in your lives.  We’re committed to show you what can happen in life if you’re passionate, cooperative, and resilient.  We’re committed to you.  Are you committed to us?  Train hard, be tough, think big. That’s Pirate Cross Country.

 Lets get after it,

           Coach Wayton

Coach Siegel